Christina to bring market vendors' grievances to City Hall
KOTA KINABALU: Api Api assemblywoman Datuk Christina Liew has assured vendors at the Kota Kinabalu Central Market that she will bring their grievances to the attention of Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK).
The former Deputy Chief Minister gave the assurance during a working visit to the market on Thursday, accompanied by former Api Api Community Development Leader, Grace Lee.
Old timers like 72-year-old Yee Shui Khin and one Madam Liaw, who have been selling vegetables for the last 40 years, were hoping that they could maintain the extended size of their existing stalls while Suriyani Amran and others asked for space allowance to keep their wares in a store beneath each stall.
This followed a letter of notification dated February 23 and issued to all vendors by KK City Mayor Noorliza Awang Alip, requiring them to comply with the area specified for each stall site.
While explaining the need to comply with the size of each stall site as permitted by DBKK (in accordance with their trading licence), without illegal extensions, Christina suggested that those who really need extensions should apply for approval from the authority. Chairman of the KK Central Market Hawkers Association, Tony Chin Vui Kiew and Ismail Datu Subol, who represented the Bumiputera vendors, were requested to assist in this matter.
"If necessary, we will arrange a dialogue between the vendors and the Mayor to discuss the vendors' needs and requests in an effort to reach a settlement that is acceptable to all parties," Christina told reporters.
Meanwhile, she advised the vendors to cooperate with DBKK by maintaining the cleanliness of their respective stalls to prevent any eruption of health issues.
The Api Api Assemblywoman also welcomed the massive disinfection and sanitisation of the KK Central Market conducted by DBKK on Wednesday and Thursday with the cooperation of the Bomba and Rescue Department, and Water Department.
"The exercise, which is in the interest of environmental health and safety, benefits the vendors and members of the public," she said.